Former Imo State governor and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, has reacted to the reports that he was among the presidential aspirant in the ruling All Progressives Congress, who were disqualified by the party’s screening committee in the forthcoming primary election.
Okorocha, through his Media adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, described the reports as false.
Recall that the APC screening committee led by John Odigie-Oyegun had, on Friday, said 13 out of the 23 presidential aspirants of the party were cleared to contest the party’s primary slated for June 6.
However, Okorocha’s name had been reported to be amongst those listed as not cleared to participate in the primary in social media posts.
Reacting in a statement, on Saturday by his media aide, Okorocha said he was not disqualified by the Odigie-Oyegun-led committee.
The full statement reads: “We have read some unconfirmed reports, especially on social media platforms, claiming that the screening committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, headed by Chief John Oyegun had purportedly cleared 13 of the presidential aspirants and disqualified 10.
“ln some of the reports, Distinguished Senator Rochas Okorocha was mentioned to be among the 10 disqualified aspirants.
“We had taken our time to listen to the video of what Chief Oyegun told journalists who confronted him after he had submitted the report of his committee to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Adamu Abdullahi.
“Chief Oyegun didn’t say that his committee disqualified Okorocha. And we don’t believe also that the committee could do such.
“This will make it the fourth time Okorocha will be running for the presidency of the country. He was governor for eight years. And today, a sitting Senator.
“So, we don’t know why those behind this unfounded speculation would even imagine that Okorocha could be disqualified by the screening committee.
“One scenario remains certain to us. And that is, those working tirelessly and using all within their reach to frustrate Okorocha out of the presidential race have not relented. They have even intensified their onslaught since Okorocha went for the screening.”
Okorocha, however, said his aspiration to contest the party’s primary election remained intact, boasting that he would participate in the primary election and win.
